Thill-coupling.



w. s THOMSON.

THILL COUPLING. APPLICATION FILEDAPRIZ, 1904'.

PATENTED MAY 30, 1905.

i No. 791.229.

Patented. May 30, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE,

WILLIAM S. THOMSON, OF PLANTSVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

THILL-COUPL'ING- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.791,229, dated May 30, 1905. Application filed April 2, 1904. Serial No.201,215.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. THOMSON, of Plantsville, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Thill-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following,when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the lettersof reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, and which said drawings constitute part of thisspecification, and represent, in

Figure 1, a side view of a thill-coupling embodying my invention,showing the parts in the position they would assume when the ends of thethills rest upon the ground; Fig. 2, a top View of the same; Fig. 3, aside view, partially in section; ig. 4, a sectional View on the line a bof Fig. 1.

This invention relates to an improvement in thill-couplings; andparticularly to that class which include a ball-and-socket joint, aforwardly-extending spring, and a clevis connected with one of themembers of the coupling and engaged by the spring, the object of theinvention being a simple arrangement of parts whereby a coupling isproduced which is not liable to become clogged with dirt and which willbe substantially antirattling; and the invention consists in theconstruction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in theclaims.

In carrying out my invention I employ an axle member A, which may be ofany approved construction and adapted to be socured to an axle in theusual manner. Projecting forward from this body A is a neck B,terminating-in a ball C. Secured to the body A- in any desired manner isa spring D. As herein shown, this spring is secured to the upper face ofthe body A, projecting rearwardly therefrom and then bowed beneath thesame and projecting forward to a point below the ball C, where itterminates in a hook E. The thill member has the usual shank F and thesocket Gr, corresponding internally to the ball C, over which it isadapted to set, this socket preferably having a notch H, so as to giveclearance for the neck B when the thills are raised. Projecting outwardfrom opposite sides of the socket and preferably formed integraltherewith are trunnions I, and suspended therefrom is a clevis J, formedwith eyes sitting over said trunnions. The lower end of this clevis issubstantially V-shaped and extends downward and is adapted to engagewith the hook endE of the spring, the tendency of the spring being todraw the socket into engagement with the ball. To disengage the members,the spring is raised so that the clevis may be turned out of engagementwith it, when the socket members will be free to be lifted away from theball members and the parts may be as readily assembled. When the thillsare raised, as in use, the sides of the notch H extend down beyond theneck or around the neck, so that the socket will be securely held on theball.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a thill-coupling in which thejoint or connection is substantially covered, so that mud and dirt arenot liable to reach the bearing-surface.

At the same time the ball closely fitting the seat will not rattle andthe wear incidental to use will be taken up, so that the coupling may beused almost indefinitely without requiring adjustment.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A thill-coupling comprisinga body portion and a forwardly-projectingball, a thill member comprising a socket adapted to sit over the uppersurface of said ball, a clevis connected with the sides of said socketindependent of said ball, and a spring secured to said body and engagingsaid clevis, substantially as describe V 2. A thill-coupling comprisinga body having a forwardly-extending neck and a ball, a thill membercomprising a socket adapted to sit over the upper surface of said balland formed with a clearance-notch for said neck, specification in thepresence of two subscribtrunnlons on opposite sides of said socket, aing Witnesses. clevls suspended from said trunnlons wlthout connectionwith said ball, and a spring secured VILLIAM THOMSON 5 to the body andengaging With said clevis, sub- Witnesses:

stantially as described. ERNEsT D. PRINDLE,

In testimony whereof I have signed this CLEMENT EUsTIs, J 1'.

